Prolactinomas: Clinical behavior in the adult population

Abstract

Prolactinomas are the most common type of secretory pituitary tumors in the adult population. The clinical presentation of this pathology is variable and can present with non-specific symptoms and signs, which can represent a challenge for the diagnostic approach. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in patients treated at the Antonio Lenin Fonseca Hospital, during 2017 to 2020, with the aim of characterizing the clinical behavior of prolactinomas in the adult population, through the review of the records of 69 patients. The results were: The tumor predominated in the female sex 76.8%, the average age was 35.17 years ± 13.03 years, the age group of 28-37 years 36.2% was the most affected. The most frequent reasons for consultation were headache 42%, changes in menstruation 36.2% and loss of vision 14.4%. Headache was the most frequent clinical manifestation 78.3%. The predominant manifestation of sexual and reproductive dysfunction in the female sex were amenorrhea 66%and galactorrhea 60.4%; while in the male sex there was decreased libido 87.5% and gynecomastia 18.8%. Campimetry was altered in 62.4% of patients. Macroprolactinoma was the most frequent of the tumors 45% and the majority were functioning prolactinomas 78.3%. 98.6% of the patients had an excess of prolactin. Prolactinomas are more frequent in reproductive age, the presence of larger prolactinomas causes the clinical manifestations of mass effect to be more frequent.

Key words: prolactinomas, pituitary tumors, clinical behaviour.